By-pass hand connection

ABSTRACT

A revolver has a cylinder, including a by-pass ratchet, mounted for rotation within a frame. A trigger is pivotally mounted in the lower portion of the frame. A cylinder lock is positioned in the lower portion of the frame adjacent the frame and is so arranged that it locks the cylinder in certain trigger positions. A hammer is mounted for rotation in the rear portion of the frame and is urged into the firing position by means of a compression spring. The lower portion of the hammer is adapted to contact the trigger and move it to a rearward position during movement of the hammer from the firing position to the cocked position. A by-pass hand and a safety connector are pivotally mounted on the trigger on separate pivots. A leaf spring is interposed between the safety connector and the hand to urge the hand in the direction of the cylinder. The pin upon which the hand is mounted is significantly smaller than the mounting aperture on the hand. As the hammer is cocked the hand engages the by-pass ratchet to rotate the cylinder to a locked position. The trigger pull in the cocked position is substantially constant at all cylinder positions since the effects of the friction between the hand and the ratchet are not transmitted to the trigger because of the play in the connection between the trigger and the hand.

United States Patent 91 Baker Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. BorcheltAssistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Radford W. Luther 51 May 22,1973 [57] ABSTRACT A revolver has a cylinder, including a by-passratchet, mounted for rotation within a frame. A trigger is pivotallymounted in the lower portion of the'frame. A cylinder lock is positionedin the lower portion of the frame adjacent the frame and is so arrangedthat it locks the cylinder in certain trigger positions. A hammer ismounted for rotation in the rear portion of the frame and is urged intothe firing position by means of a compression spring. The lower portionof the hammer is adapted to contact the trigger and move it to arearward position during movement of the hammer from the firing positionto the cocked position. A by-pass hand and a safety connector arepivotally mounted on the trigger on seoarate pivots. A leaf spring isinterposed between the safety connector and the hand to urge the hand inthe direction of the cylinder. The pin upon which the hand is mounted issignificantly smaller than the mounting aperture on the hand. As thehammer is cocked the hand engages the by-pass ratchet to rotate thecylinder to a locked position. The trigger pull in the cocked positionis substantially constant at all cylinder positions since the effects ofthe friction between the hand and the ratchet are not transmitted to thetrigger because of the play in the connection between the trigger andthe hand.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmrzz m3 SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. A/CHIQPD L. B'A KER 65%g/ a) M ATTORNEY BY-PASS HAND CONNECTIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to revolvers and moreparticularly to revolvers which utilize a hand to rotate the cylinderthereof.

Revolvers incorporating cylinders having ratchets which are rotated by aby-pass hand are well known in the prior art. Typically, these prior artrevolvers incorporate a pin on the trigger or the hand which serves tomount the hand, which, in turn, is arranged to engage and drive theratchet during rearward movement of the trigger. When the trigger ispulled or the hammer is cocked, the extremity of the by-pass handengages the ratchet and turns the cylinder. cause In order for arevolver incorporating a by-pass hand to be properly timed, the cylindermust lock during rearward movement of the hammer to a cocked positionand the hand must then be able to slide by the ratchet during the lastfew degrees of hammer rotation. This arrangement necessitates that theratchet teeth be formed to exacting specifications. Since it isvirtually impossible to manufacture six perfectly formed ratchet teeth,revolvers of the aforementioned type will have a slightly differenttrigger pull on one or more chambers due to the friction occasionedbetween the extremity of the hand and the ratchet when the trigger issqueezed to fire the revolver. Also, any residue which adheres to theratchet will not only case the cylinder to revolve with noticeable drag,but will also resultin more friction between the extremity of the handand the ratchet than would otherwise be encountered.

While a revolver which requires varying trigger pulls in the respectivepositions of the cylinder may not be found objectionable in certainapplications, this characteristic will militate against the accurateoperation of the revolver. For example, if the revolver is usedprimarily for target shooting, a varying trigger pull would clearly beundesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a means by which arevolver of the aforementioned type can respond to a consistent triggerpull on every chamber. The invention achieves this result by looselymounting the hand upon the trigger by means of a pin structure whichinterconnects the hand and trigger. The structure is received in a holewhich is significantly larger than the structure. Thus, when the triggeris pulled to disengage the sear on the trigger from the notch on thehammer, the trigger pull will not have to be sufficient to overcome thefriction between the extremity of the hand and ratchet since the motionof the trigger is not transmitted to the hand along its axial direction.

The invention, in addition to achieving a consistent trigger pull in thevarious cylinder positions, yields an improved trigger return due to thefact that the trigger spring will jerk the hand because of the momentumdeveloped by the trigger before the pin structure contacts the peripheryof the hole. Another advantage, inherent in the instant invention, isthat the hand may float with respect to the trigger, therebycompensating for any surface irregularities which may be present in theframe, side plate, trigger or ratchet. This arrangement not onlycontributes to an improved trigger return, but also allows for greatertolerances in the manufacture of the above enumerated components.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide arevolver which yields a consistent single action trigger pull on everychamber.

It is another object to provide a means which contributes to an improvedtrigger return.

A further object is to provide a revolver having a consistent singleaction trigger pull on every chamber in which the manufacturingtolerances of some of the components of the revolver may be greater thanthose which would ordinarily be required.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view, partly brokenaway and partly in section, showing a handgun incorporating anembodiment of this invention with its hammer in the neutral or firedposition;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing details of the handgun firingmechanism with its hammer in the cocked position;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view, on a reduced scale, showing a portion of aconnector in relation to an inside wall of a sideplate of the handgunframe;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the connector and hand inrelation to the sideplate when the hammer is in the cocked position;

FIG. 6 is a partly broken away view of the trigger and the hammershowing the engagement of the respective sears;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, showing the mountingarrangement between the hand and the trigger;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hand according to another embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings in detail, a preferred embodiment of this invention is shown ina revolvertype handgun 10 having a barrel 12 secured to a frame 14.Pivotally mounted in the frame 14 is a swing-out cylinder 16 suitablychambered for receiving cartridges (not shown) to be tired in sequenceby a firing mechanism 18.

To load and unload the cylinder 16, a cylinder bearing pin 20 isretracted against a spring bias coaxially away from rotary bearingengagement with the cylinder 16 to permit it to be bodily displacedangularly about a pivotal axis X-X of a crane 22. The pivotal axis X-Xof the crane 22 is in parallel spaced relation to the central rotationalaxis of the cylinder 16 which is coincident with a spring biased ejectorrod 24. By such construction, both the crane 22 and cylinder 16 may beswung outwardly as a unit from a closed position within the frame 14(shown in the drawings) to an open position. In the open position, spentcartridge casings (not shown) may be unloaded by depressing the ejectorrod 24 to move a by-pass ratchet ejector 26 rearwardly to unseat thecartridge casings. Upon releasing the ejector rod 24, the ratchetejector 26 again seats against the cylinder 16, which may then be loadedwith fresh cartridges before being closed.

Upon being seated in the closed position, the spring biased bearing pinautomatically moves forwardly into bearing engagement with the cylinder16 to support it for rotary movement, and each cylinder chamber (notshown) is individually maintained in coaxial alignment with the barrel12 by an end of a bolt 28 which seats within one of a series of cylinderlocking cuts, such as at 30, which, in turn, correspond in number to thecylinder chambers. The bolt 28 pivots about a pin 32 fixed to the frame14, and a torsion spring 34 continuously urges the bolt 28 towardseating engagement within a cylinder locking cut 30.

To ensure low cost manufacture while also minimizing close tolerancerequirements, the frame 14 is formed with a cavity 36 having a flatinternal floor 38 for receiving the firing mechanism components which byvirtue of the flat floor construction are quickly and easily assembledand replaced as the need arises.

For firing the cartridges, the firing mechanism 18 is provided a triggerdevice 40 and a by-pass hand device 42 pivotally supported thereon bymeans of a pin structure 42a which is received in an aperture 42b. Thehand serves to advance the ratchet ejector 26 a selected angulardistance to index each chamber, in turn, into alignment with the barrel12 to be sequentially fired by dropping a hammer 44 to actuate a firingpin 46.

The hammer 44 is supported on the frame 14 by a pivot pin 48 and isreleased from a cocked position (FIG. 2) to move toward a neutral orfired position (FIG. 1) by the movement of the trigger 40. The hammer 44returns to the fired position under the force of a main spring 50. Thelatter is coiled about a guide rod 52 extending through an aperturedthrust plate 54 in the frame 14 with the main spring 50 bottomed on thethrust plate 54 and urging an upper ball end 56 of the guide rod 52 intoa socket 58 for continuous engagement with the hammer 44.

The firing pin 46 is biased rearwardly by a captive spring 60 such thata head 62 of the firing pin 46 is exposed in adjacent but spacedrelation to the hammer 44 in the neutral or fired position and a tip 64of the firing pin 44 is normally contained within a recoil plate 66 ofthe frame 14 in coaxial alignment with the barrel 12.

The trigger 40 pivots about the frame 14 on a pin 68 and is normallymaintained in a forward position (FIG. 1) under the bias of a triggerreturn spring 70. Upon squeezing the trigger 40 rearwardly, a forwardnose 72 of the trigger 40 engages a shoulder 74 of the bolt 28 duringdownward movement thereof to disengage the bolt from its cylinderlocking cut 30. Disengagement of the bolt from a locking cut permits thecylinder 16 to be indexed by the hand 42 simultaneously with the piv'otal movement of the trigger 40. The hand 42 advances the ratchetejector 26 at a sufficiently rapid rate such that, upon the trigger nose72 clearing the shoulder 74 of the bolt 28, the bolt 28 seats within thenext locking cut to fix a cylinder chamber in alignment with the barrel12 before the trigger 40 causes the hammer 44 to be dropped, thereby toensure against any possibility of actuating the firing pin 46 before acylinder chamber is fully indexed.

The hammer 44 is thus simultaneously actuated with the trigger 40 andthe chamber indexing movements of the cylinder 16. If the cylinder 16were bound by an unseated bullet, e.g., trigger movement would beinterrupted by virtue of the hand 42 being directly mounted for pivotalmovement on the trigger 40. A complementary safety feature is providedby a safety connector 76 which, like the hand 42, is also supported forpivotal movement directly on the trigger 40 to be positioned between thehammer 44 and the firing pin 46. The latter thus is conditioned to befired only when the trigger 40 is held rearwardly, preferably aftermoving the hammer 44 into the fully cooked position (FIG. 2).

To position both the hand and connector elements 42, 76, while yetensuring an improved, simplified construction incorporating a minimumnumber of parts, a spring 78 is mounted between the hand 42 andconnector 76 to continuously urge them respectively toward and away fromthe cylinder 16. Positive contact engagement between the hand 42 andratchet ejector 26 is thereby ensured while also preventing anypossibility of interference between the connector 76 and the exposedhead 62 of the firing pin 46. In the specific illus trated embodiment ofthis invention, the spring 78 is a generally flatleaf spring showncarried by the connector 76 and suitably configured with a reverse bend.Such construction provides an intermediate spring portion 80 engagingthe connector 76 to urge it away from the cylinder 16 while a free endportion 82 of the spring 78 contacts the hand 42 to bias it'toward thecylinder 16 into initial contact with a guide pin 84 on the frame 14.Both the hand 42 and connector 76 are continuously urged in suchopposite angular directions irrespective of their relative positionsthroughout the entire movement of the trigger 40.

Both single and double action movements of the firing mechanism 18 areprovided for in the revolver 10 of this invention. In a single actionmovement, the hammer 44 is manually cocked by depressing its hammer spur86 and then released from the cocked position by a trigger squeeze whichremains substantially constant in all of the discrete cylinderpositions. In contrast, the hammer 44 is both cocked and released by asingle trigger squeeze in a double action movement.

During cocking of the firing mechanism 18, hammer movement is effectedin accordance with another feature of the illustrated embodiment by asignificantly simplified sear construction. A rear nose portion 88 isprovided on the trigger 40 incorporating a novel profile of reducedthickness in the direction of the pivotal axis of the trigger 40 to forma pair of contoured engagement shoulders defining a single actiontrigger sear portion 90 and a double action trigger sear portion 92. Thehammer 44 is formed with a lower finger 94 having a notched end portiondefining a single action hammer sear 96. The finger 94 initially engagesa shoulder 98 on the rear trigger nose 88 adjacent the single actiontrigger sear 90 upon depressing the hammer spur 86 to move the trigger40 rearwardly to engage the single action sear portions 90 and 96 of thetrigger 40 and hammer 44, thereby to hold the hammer 44 cocked until itis released by a trigger squeeze causing the single action trigger sear90 to move upwardly and disengage the single action hammer sear 96 tofire the revolver 10.

As previously mentioned, a revolver designed in accordance with theinvention is characterized by a constant trigger squeeze during singleaction operation. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that asmall pivotal displacement A6 of the trigger 40 is necessary todisengage the trigger sear from the single action hammer so that thehammer may fall from the cocked position of FIG. 2 to the fired positionof FIG. 1. The trigger sear displacement is designated d in FIG. 6 andis obviously related to the pivotal displacement A0 as follows:

d=R A0 wherein: R is the radial distance of the trigger sear from thetriggers pivot 68. This pivotal displacement A0 also procures adisplacement D of the pin 42a which is expressed by the equation:

Thus, during single action operation, the pin 42a, upon which the handis mounted, moves a distance approximately equal to the ratio of theradial distance of the pin 42a from the pivot of the trigger to theradial distance of the trigger sear from the pivot of the trigger timesthe distance traversed by the trigger sear in clearing the hammer sear.

It has been found that it is virtually impossible to manufacture theratchet 26 so that the extremity of the hand 42 will encounter the sameresistance in all cylinder positions when the trigger is squeezed insingle 'action operation. This is because the timing of the gun is thecontrolling consideration in machining the ratchet. In a properly timedgun, pulling the trigger in the FIG. 1 position thereof or cocking thehammer accurately positions the cylinder in a discrete position in whichthe bolt 28 engages a locking cut 30, thereby precisely aligning theselected cylinder chamber with the barrel.

If the extremity of the hand encounters varying resistancefrom theratchet in the discrete positions of the cylinder when the trigger issqueezed during single action operation, the necessary trigger force inrespective discrete cylinder positions to disengage the trigger searfrom the hammer sear will be correspondingly varied. Clearly, if therewere no play between the pin 42a and the hand 42, this resistance wouldbe transmitted to the trigger 40.

It will be noted that the hand 42 is loosely mounted on the pin 42a byvirtue of the hole 42b being larger than the pin. The hole issufficiently large so that the pin 42a is substantially linearly movabletherein a distance at lease approximately equal to R /R d and therefore,when the trigger is squeezed during single action operation, this motionis not transmitted to the hand 42 until the trigger sear has cleared thehammer sear.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, a hand 42"may be provided with a pinstructure 42c and the trigger may be provided with a hole (not shown) toreceive the pin, the hole, of course, being larger than the pin toloosely mount the hand upon the trigger. This alternative arrangement isthe equivalent of that shown in FIGS. 1-7 and will similarly result in aconstant trigger pull in the various cylinder positions. It will beunderstood that in this embodiment of the invention, the movement of thetrigger to effect release of the hammer, when it is in a cockedposition, will not cause sliding movement of the hand on the ratchetbecause the periphery of the hole in the trigger will not displace thehand along its axis until the trigger sear has been disengaged from thehammer sear.

Moreover, the hand and trigger could each be provided with a pinstructure and the respective pin structures could be loosely joined by asuitable coupling.

In the illustrative revolver, a hammer strut 100 constitutes a doubleaction hammer sear and a positive force is applied along the length ofthe strut 100 responsive to rearward movement of the trigger 40. Uponsqueezing the trigger 40, the double action trigger sear .92 engages thehammer strut 100 to move the hammer 44 into the fully cocked positionand, coincidentally with further rearward movement of the trigger 40,the hammer strut 100 rides off the contact surface of the double actiontrigger sear 92 to drop the hammer 44 to tire a cartridge.

It will also be noted that undesired rubbing of the parts is minimizedby providing raised pads such as shown at 99 and 101 on the trigger andhammer 44 respectively.

To further minimize the number of working parts while providingadditional economies in the manufacture and assembly of the illustratedrevolver, the strut 100 is formed with an integral hub bearing portion102 received for captured pivotal movement within a recess 104 formed inthe hammer 44. In addition to minimizing the number of parts normallyassociated with conventional revolver firing mechanisms, suchconstruction provides further advantages of unitary low cost manufactureand increased stability and strength for dependable service over. anextended period of time. To ensure continuous contact engagement betweenthe hammer strut 100 and the cooperating double action trigger sear 92during rearward movement of the trigger 40 while additionally permittingtrigger return to its forwardmost position past the hammer 44 in itsfired position, the hammer strut 100 is rearwardly depressible. In thisregard, a coil spring 106 continuously urges hammer strut 100 forwardlyto an extent limited by engagement between the pivoted strut 100 and thehammer 44. A cylindrical guide 108 receives the coil spring 106 whichbottoms against the hammer 44 within a compartment 110 formed thereinand against a closed end of the guide 108 to apply continuous springforce against the hammer strut while also permitting it to moverearwardly to allow the trigger 40 to return to the forwardmostposition.

In accordance with still another feature of the illustrated revolver forensuring quick and easy assembly of stocks 112, 114 to the frame 14, acombination sideplate and stock retaining means is provided forreleasably securing a sideplate 116 to the frame 14 and for bothlocating and maintaining the stocks 112, 114 in fixed relation to theframe 14. As best seen in FIG. 3, the combination sideplate and stockretaining means is provided by a faster 118 removably securing thesideplate 116 to the frame 14 with the fastener 118 comprising a screw120 and cooperating nut 122 respectively having end portions protrudinga discrete distance for receipt in cavities 124 and 126 recessed in aninside wall of the stocks 112 and 114. The cavities 124, 126 areprepositioned and dimensioned to ensure that the screw 120 and nut 122will intimately engage the stocks 112 and 114 with the stocks overlyingcorresponding portions of the frame 14 in coextensive alignment. Thefastener 118 thus provides multiple functions of not only fastening thesideplate 116 to the frame 14, but also quickly and easily locating thestocks 112, 114 on the frame 14 for attachment, while effectivelypreventing any undesired angular displacement of the stocks 112, 114relative to the frame 14 once the stocks are secured thereto by asuitable screw, e.g., not shown.

To maintain the connector 76 against excessive movement away from thecylinder 16 under the force of spring 78, while also ensuring that thehand 42 will be held in operative engagement with ratchet ejector 26 ofthe cylinder 16 throughout the hammer movement, a recess 128 is formedin an inside wall of the sideplate 116 to provide a shoulder or guidesurface 130 for the connector 76. As best seen in FIG. 4, the connector76 includes a firing pin engagement portion 132 which is offset anddisposed laterally outwardly of the recess 128 irrespective of theconnector position. As the hammer 44 moves to the cocked position, theconnector 76 rides up the shoulder 130, to position its offset portion132 between the hammer 44 and firing pin 46 while ensuring that theconnector 76 will be free of any interference with the firing pin 46during hammer movement. The spring 78 also maintains the connector 76 incontinuous contact engagement with the shoulder 130 to ensure againstany possibility of the spring 78 being relaxed to permit disengagementof the hand 42 and the ratchet ejector 26.

A handgun constructed in accordance with this invention not onlyprovides a constant trigger squeeze in single action movements, but alsoprovides for a wider range of manufacturing tolerances due to the loosefit of the hand on the trigger. Also, it will be appreciated that theinvention facilitates trigger return, since the hand is jerkeddownwardly under the bias of the trigger spring.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above-described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,as defined by the subjoined claims. For example, the hole 42b and thepin structure 42a need not be cylindrical, but may embody other shapesas long as the hand is loosely mounted. Also, the invention is notlimited to pivotally mounted hands and triggers. The trigger could beslideable, if a means to transmit the movement thereof to the hand isprovided. lf desired, the hand could be mounted in a guide recess in thetrigger or in an associated structure. Further, the invention is notlimited to revolvers incorporating specially designed hammers or torevolvers incorporating a safety connector as the invention is adaptedto be employed in any revolver which utilizes a hand to drive thecylinder ratchet.

I claim:

1. In an improved revolver of the by-pass hand type having a frame, atrigger with a single action sear thereupon movably mounted on theframe, a hammer with a single action sear thereupon pivotally mounted inthe frame such that the trigger sear engages the hammer sear when thehammer is in a cocked position, a cylinder mounted for rotation on theframe, a by-pass ratchet operatively connected to the cylinder and abypass hand associated with the trigger for engaging the ratchet androtating the cylinder, the improvement comprising means to mount thehand for movement with the trigger to prevent the movement of thetrigger from causing sliding of the hand on the ratchet duringdisengagement of the trigger sear from the hammer sear.

2. In an improved revolver of the by-pass hand type having a frame, atrigger device, having a single action sear, movably mounted on theframe, a hammer, having a single action sear, mounted on the frame formovement between a cocked position in which the sears are in engagementand a fired position, a small movement of the trigger device beingadapted to release the sears from engagement to fire the revolver, acylinder mounted for rotation between discrete positions on the frame, aby-pass ratchet operatively connected to the cylinder and a by-pass handdevice associated with the trigger device and movable therewith forengaging the ratchet and rotating the cylinder, the improvementcomprising a structure operatively interconnnecting the trigger deviceand the hand device, the structure being integral with one of thedevices, means to loosely receive the structure within the other of thedevices such that the small movement of the trigger does not cause thehand to slide over the ratchet, whereby the force required to effect thesmall movement will be constant in the discrete cylinder positions.

3. An improved revolver of the bypass hand type having a frame, atrigger device with a single action sear thereupon pivotally mounted onthe frame, a hammer with a single action sear thereupon pivotallymounted on the frame such that the trigger device sear engages thehammer sear to prevent falling of the hammer when the hammer is in acocked position, a cylinder mounted for rotation on the frame, a by-passratchet operatively connected to the cylinder, the ratchet beingengagable to rotate the cylinder between the discrete firing positionsthereof, and a by-pass hand device operatively connected to the triggerdevice and normally responsive to movements thereof for engaging theratchet to rotate the cylinder, the improvement comprising a structureextending between the trigger and hand devices, the structure beingintegral with one of the devices and being loosely received in a hole inthe other of the devices such that relative linear movement between thehole and structure is effected when the trigger sear is disengaged fromthe hammer sear, the linear movement being at least equal to the ratioof .theradial distance of the structure from the pivot of the triggerdevice to the radial distance of the trigger device sear from the pivotof the trigger device times the distance traversed by the trigger searin clearing the hammer sear during disengagement therebetween, wherebythe hand will not slide upon the ratchet during this disengagement.

1. In an improved revolver of the by-pass hand type having a frame, atrigger with a single action sear thereupon movably mounted on theframe, a hammer with a single action sear thereupon pivotally mounted inthe frame such that the trigger sear engages the hammer sear when thehammer is in a cocked position, a cylinder mounted for rotation on theframe, a by-pass ratchet operatively connected to the cylinder and aby-pass hand associated with the trigger for engaging the ratchet androtating the cylinder, the improvement comprising means to mount thehand for movement with the trigger to prevent the movement of thetrigger from causing sliding of the hand on the ratchet duringdisengagement of the trigger sear from the hammer sear.
 2. In animproved revolver of the by-pass hand type having a frame, a triggerdevice, having a single action sear, movably mounted on the frame, ahammer, having a single action sear, mounted on the frame for movementbetween a cocked position in which the sears are in engagement and afired position, a small movement of the trigger device being adapted torelease the sears from engagement to fire the revolver, a cylindermounted for rotation between discrete positions on the frame, a by-passratchet operatively connected to the cylinder and a by-pass hand deviceassociated with the trigger device and movable therewith for engagingthe ratchet and rotating the cylinder, the improvement comprising astructure operatively interconnnecting the trigger device and the handdevice, the structure being integral with one of the devices, means toloosely receive the structure within the other of the devices such thatthe small movement of the trigger does not cause the hand to slide overthe ratchet, whereby the force required to effect the small movementwill be constant in the discrete cylinder positions.
 3. An improvedrevolver of the by-pass hand type having a frame, a trigger device witha single action sear thereupon pivotally mounted on the frame, a hammerwith a single action sear thereupon pivotally mounted on the frame suchthat the trigger device sear engages the hammer sear to prevent fallingof the hammer when the hammer is in a cocked position, a cylindermounted for rotation on the frame, a by-pass ratchet operativelyconnected to the cylinder, the ratchet being engagable to rotate thecylinder between the discrete firing positions thereof, and a by-passhand device operatively connected to the trigger device and normallyresponsive to movements thereof for engaging the ratchet to rotate thecylinder, the improvement comprising a structure extending between thetrigger and hand devices, the structure being integral with one of thedevices and being loosely received in a hole in the other of the devicessuch that relative linear movement between the hole and structure iseffected when the trigger sear is disengaged from the hammer sear, thelinear movement being at least equal to the ratio of the radial distanceof the structure from the pivot of the trigger device to the radialdistance of the trigger device sear from the pivot of the trigger devicetimes the distance traversed by the trigger sear in clearing the hammersear during disengagement therebetween, whereby the hand will not slideupon the ratchet during this disengagement.